Volkswagen’s hot-rodded T-Roc R is ready to shred its tires to confetti

The high-performance SUV segment is booming and is no longer beyond the reach of major brands. Volkswagen threw his hat in the ring when he unveiled the T-Roc R at the 2019 Geneva Auto Show. It is a higher and more spacious alternative to the Golf R that has a similar stroke. It is considered a close production concept car, which means that it is almost ready to go on sale.

Starting with a T-Roc, a sub-Tiguan model developed primarily for the European market, Volkswagen performance assistants added a deeper front bumper with larger vents to direct more cooling air to the engine compartment, and fenders widened to fit the larger tires rolled approximately inch alloy wheels. The diagonal LEDs integrated into the front bumper add a touch of high technology to the look.

The flagship paper of R in the T-Roc range guarantees that it receives the latest technology features from the Volkswagen navy. It is available with a set of digital instruments configurable by the driver and a large and high resolution touch screen in the center console for the infotainment system. The software perfectly reflects the two missions in the life of the T-Roc R.: it includes a race mode and an off-road mode. The fabric upholstery is standard and the leather is available at an additional cost.

As expected, the power comes from a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine taken from the Golf R. It delivers 300 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of four-wheel torque through a seven-speed automatic transmission and double clutch and a sports version of the Volkswagen 4Motion all-wheel drive system. The T-Roc R accelerates to 62 mph from a stop in 4.9 seconds, and reaches its top speed at 155 mph.

It does not make sense to charge a 300-hp engine in an SUV if the brakes and suspension are not updated either. Larger brakes and a firmer suspension are part of the R package. The brakes also come from the Golf R with which the T-Roc R shares its basic platform.

We hope that the Volkswagen T-Roc R goes on sale before the end of 2019. When it arrives, it will be the first SUV with an R plate, and it will be the first time that the Volkswagen Go-fast R division sells two models in the same weather. However, do not check out your checkbook at the moment. Digital Trends learned from a Volkswagen representative that the T-Roc R will not be sold in the United States.